Clipboard pencil holder

ABSTRACT

The clipboard pencil holder is a device that can be easily attached to the clip of a conventional clipboard for the purpose of providing easy and convenient storage and retrieval of a pencil or other similarly-sized writing instrument. The holder holds the pencil horizontally against, and parallel to the clipboard clip while substantially avoiding interference with the clipboard clip&#39;s ability to grip a paper pad which, for example, is positioned between the clip and the board of the clipboard.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

[0001] This application claims the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119 of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/460,965 filed Apr. 7, 2003, incorporated by reference herein.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

[0002] Not applicable.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] The invention relates to a clipboard pencil holder, and more particularly to a detachably mounted structure for use with a conventional clipboard.

[0004] Heretofore, clipboards have utilized various structures to retain pencils. Such structures may be permanently fixed to, or designed into, the clip mechanism of the clipboard. For example, known retaining structures are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,725,250 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,127,649.

[0005] Other types of holding mechanisms for clipboards are detachable to the clip. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,058,242 shows a detachable structure. Such holding mechanisms of the prior art, however, may come loose from the clipboard, may move sideways on the clip, provide for the holding of only one pencil, hold the pencil on only one side of the clip, or are difficult to use.

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a detachable holder for a clipboard, which is easy to use, durable, reliable, easily manufactured and manufacturable at a low cost, while simultaneously overcoming the disadvantages of the prior art holding methods and apparatus for clipboards.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0007] These and other objects of the invention are achieved in a holder detachably mountable to the clip of a conventional clipboard. The holder holds a writing instrument, as for example, a pencil. The holder grips the bottom edge of the clip in order to position a holding member relative to the planar surface of the clip.

[0008] In one embodiment, a contact member is positioned relative to the holding member for engaging a pencil as the pencil moves into position in order to force open the holder to receive the pencil.

[0009] In another embodiment, a second holding member is positioned relative to the clip for holding a second pencil.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0010]FIG. 1 is a partial view of a clipboard and a front perspective view of an embodiment of a holder attached to the clip of the clipboard.

[0011]FIG. 2 is the holder of FIG. 1, but illustrating a change in position of a pencil being held by the holder.

[0012]FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of the holder of FIG. 1.

[0013]FIG. 4 is a front view of the holder of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 5 is back view of the holder of FIG. 1.

[0015]FIGS. 6 and 7 are perspective views of the holder of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a clipboard 10 includes a planar board member 13 made of pressed fiber board, for example, and a conventional metal clip 15. Clip 15 is formed from a front element 14 (FIG. 2) which is pivotably connected to a rear element 16. Rear element 16 is riveted or otherwise secured to board member 13 in a conventional manner.

[0017] Front element 14 includes a pair of planar side panels 18 (one shown in FIG. 2) which are spaced apart and extend rearwardly from a planar front panel 22. As understood, front panel 22 includes a linear edge 17 (FIG. 1) that engages the flat surface of board member 13. Clip 15 includes a spring (not shown, but see the prior art patents cited above which are incorporated herein by reference) which biases front element 14 to pivot about an axis 20 relative to rear element 16. The force of the spring biases linear edge 17 firmly against board member 13, so as to secure a pad of paper (not shown) which is placed between the board member 13 and linear edge 17 of the clip 15.

[0018] A pencil clip or holder 19 (hereinafter referred to as a “holder” so as to avoid confusion with “clip” 15) is positioned onto clip 15 by a user of the device. Holder 19 has three distinct sections—a lower section 21, a mid-section 23 and an upper section 25. Pencil holder 19 is made of a firm yet flexible material such as plastic. However, holder 19 may be made from metal, for example, spring sheet steel or brass sheeting.

[0019] As shown in FIGS. 3-7, lower section 21 is formed of two legs 27, 29 (FIG. 3) are separably flexible, i.e., which flex outwardly to separate so as to receive and grip the bottom portion 31 (FIG. 1) of clipboard clip 15. The gripping action of the legs 27, 29 against portion 31 is caused by the resiliency of the legs which generate a return bias when flexed outwardly. The return bias must be of a sufficient force so as to prevent holder 19 from falling off of, or coming loose from, clip 15 when the clip is opened, i.e., when front element 14 is pivoted relative to rear element 16 to provide an opening between edge 17 and board 13. Additional force may be provided to draw leg 27 into contact with portion 31 of the clip, when the embodiment makes use of a rear holding member 35, as described hereinafter.

[0020] Legs 27, 29 are connected by a bottom portion 37, and lower section 21 has a cross-sectional shape that may be described as U-shaped. Front leg 27 is approximately ⅜ ths of an inch “high”, as shown in FIG. 3. Rear leg 29 is ½ of an inch high. The difference in height is shown in FIG. 4. The topmost ⅛^(th) of an inch of leg 29 may be angled or curved toward the rear, as seen in FIG. 7 and FIG. 3, so as to provide a surface to guide the clip edge 17 into the holder. There is a gap between the inside surfaces of legs 27, 29 which is sized in view of the thickness of bottom portion 31 of the clip. The bottom portion 37 has a length that is approximately (within 5% less or more) the length of the linear edge 17 of clipboard clip 15 in order to allow retention of all or nearly all of the clipboard clip's ability to grip. For example, bottom member 37 may be described as forming a linear edge 12 having a length within a range of plus or minus 0.25 inches of the length of linear edge 17. Conventional clips typically have a linear edge 17 of a length of 6 inches or 5 and ⅞ ths inches. The spring-forced pressure of edge 17 of clip 15 (as against board 13) is transferred to the holder 19 along the entire length of linear edge 12 of section 21. Thus, clip 15 controls an engagement contact area provided by bottom member 37 against board 13 which is approximately the same as the engagement contact area provided by edge 17.

[0021] The mid-section 23 includes a front member 33 and a rear member 35. Front member 33 extends in an outward curve from the lower section 21 to a point approximately ¾ ths of an inch above the bottom 37 of the lower section, and then angles or curves inwardly toward the rear until it touches or nearly touches the rear member 35. This shape provides a pencil receiving cavity 34 (FIG. 1) formed by front member 33 and the flat, planar front panel 22 of clip 15 when holder 19 is engaged onto clip 15. The inside surface of front member 33 may be curved or have a shape formed of angled planes.

[0022] As shown in FIG. 4, the longitudinal length 51 of front member 33 of the mid-section 23 is substantially (i.e., at least less than 50 percent) shorter than the longitudinal length 53 of lower section 21. This allows less force to be required to flex front member 33 outwardly away from panel 22 of the clip so as to receive pencil 11. In the same way, the longitudinal length 55 (FIG. 5) of rear member 35 is substantially (i.e., at least less than 50 percent) shorter than the longitudinal length 53 (FIG. 4) of lower section 21. This allows less force to be required to flex rear member 35 outwardly away from the clip so as to receive the pencil.

[0023] Upper section 25 includes a front cam member 41 and a rear top member 43. Front cam member 41 angles or curves away outwardly from the top of front member 33. Front cam member 41 includes an inside planar cam surface 40 which engages the pencil 11 so that front member 33 is lifted outwardly by the action of inserting a writing instrument between holder 19 and the clipboard clip. This camming action causes the cavity 34 between the front member 33 and the clip 15 to enlarge. The extension length (⅜ inches in FIG. 3) of cam member 41 is established in view of the diameter of pencil 11 and the angle between cam member 41 and front panel 22 of the clip 15.

[0024] Rear member 35, like its front member counterpart, extends in a curve shape from the lower section 21 to an edge 30 touching or nearly touching the top edge 36 of front member 33. This shape provides another pencil receiving cavity formed by rear member 35 and the flat planar rear surface of panel 22 of clip 15, when holder 19 is engaged onto clip 15.

[0025] As referred to above, rear member 35 provides additional force to secure the holder to the clip. Leg 37 is drawn into contact with portion 31 of the clip, at least at the inside upper edge 28 of leg 27, due to the force provided by the inside upper edge 30 of leg 29, contacting the flat planar rear surface of panel 22. This tends to force rear member 35 outwardly thus pulling the upper edge 28 against bottom portion 31 of the clip.

[0026] The rear top member 43 has a planar shape and extends outwardly from the top of rear member 35. Top member 43 may be aligned parallel to and in touching contact with the back planar surface of front panel 22 when the pencil holder is slipped onto the clip, depending upon the particular shape of clipboard clip 15. In some cases, top member 43 may angle away from panel 22 of the clipboard clip. Top member 43 facilitates the initial insertion of the holder onto the clip. In addition, top member 43 extends between the two side panels 18, and thus, prevents undesirable sideways movement of the holder 19 relative to clip 15. Top member 43 is lifted or moved rearwardly from panel 22 by the action of inserting a writing instrument, for example, pencil 11, into the cavity formed by rear member 35. While the pencil 11 is being installed, the pencil holder's sideways mobility is minimized by side panels 18. The length of top member 43 is sufficient to engage side panels 18, but not so long as to interfere with the spring of clip 15. In addition, a hole (not shown) may pass through top member 43 to facilitate hanging holder 19 onto a rack in a store. The hole may be centrally located.

[0027] Pencil 11 is inserted into the front side of the pencil holder by placing it against the front of panel 22 of the clipboard clip at a point just above and parallel to the top edge of the pencil holder. The writing instrument is then moved downwardly along and against the surface of the clipboard clip until it meets camming member 41 and moves camming member 41 outwardly and then comes to rest and is held between the clipboard clip and the pencil holder. Pencil receiving cavity 34 is sized to receive a conventional pencil with a standard circumference. A pencil with a standard circumference is thus held by front member 33 being biased toward panel 22, and receives a holding pressure required for effective use of holder 19. As understood, pencils having non-standard circumferences may be held by holder 19.

[0028] The writing instrument is removed by reversing the insertion movement. The width of midsection 23 is shorter than that of lower section 21 so as to decrease (or establish) the resistance provided to the pencil when the pencil is slid downwardly into the holder. The shorter width of midsection 23 also allows the user to hold the pencil at one or both ends during insertion and to center the pencil relative to the holder. The pencil 11 may be pushed or slid sideways after insertion so as to center the pencil in holder 19.

[0029] A writing instrument is inserted into the rear side of the pencil holder by placing the writing instrument against the rear side of the clipboard clip at a point just to the side of the rear member 35 of the pencil holder. The writing instrument is then slid or moved sideways, point end first, along its longitudinal axis and against the surface of the clipboard clip until it is centered and held between the clipboard clip and the pencil holder.

[0030] The writing instrument is removed by reversing the insertion movement or by moving it in the same direction in which it was inserted until it is free of the pencil holder. As understood, holder 19 may hold two pencils simultaneously, one in each of the pencil receiving cavities formed by members 33, 35.

[0031] While the invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art will understand that changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted without departing from the scope of the invention. This is particularly true as to the given dimensions which represent only one embodiment. For example, the extending length of front cam member 41 which extends outwardly from edge 36 may be shorter than ⅜ inches. In another example, the clipboard 10 may be a version smaller or larger than a standard clipboard.

[0032] In another example, clip holder 19 may be formed without rear member 35 and top member 43, so as to provide a holder for one pencil. Also, for example, clip holder 19 may be formed without front member 33 and cam member 41, so as to provide a holder for one pencil. In addition, many modifications may be made to adapt a particular step, structure, or material to the teachings of the invention without departing from its scope. The thickness of holder 19 is specified according to the need for flexibility and for durability, depending on the particular material which forms holder 19. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the particular embodiment disclosed, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A holder for securing a writing instrument to a clipboard having a clip, comprising: a bottom section having a pair of legs, said legs being separably flexible for engaging the clip of the clipboard to grip the clip in frictional engagement; an upper section integrally connected to a first one of said legs of said bottom section and providing an instrument retention cavity proximate to the clip when said bottom section engages the clip; and a first contact member integrally connected to said upper section and extending outwardly, said first contact member being movable for opening said instrument retention cavity for receiving the pencil.
 2. A holder according to claim 1 and further including a second upper section integrally connected to a second one of said legs of said bottom section and providing a second instrument retention cavity proximate to the clip when said bottom section engages the clip.
 3. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said legs are flexibly movable apart to provide a bias return force for frictionally engaging the legs to the clip.
 4. A holder according to claim 1 wherein the clip has a first linear edge; and wherein the bottom section provides a second linear edge.
 5. A holder according to claim 34 wherein said second linear edge is approximately the length of the first linear edge.
 6. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said upper section has a surface for forming a portion of said cavity.
 7. A holder according to claim 6 wherein said surface holds a writing instrument against the clip.
 8. A holder according to claim 7 wherein said upper section is flexibly movable relative to said bottom section, said upper section being movable away from the clip, when said bottom section engages the clip, for providing a biasing force against a writing instrument when the instrument is located within said cavity.
 9. A holder according to claim 8 wherein said biasing force holds the writing instrument against the clip.
 10. A holder according to claim 9 wherein said upper section has a substantially shorter longitudinal length than the longitudinal length of said bottom section.
 11. A holder according to claim 1 wherein said first contact member has a first camming surface for engaging the outer surface of a writing instrument.
 12. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said second upper section has an outwardly curved surface forming at least a portion of said second instrument retention cavity.
 13. A holder for securing a writing instrument to a clipboard having a clip, comprising: a first member having a structure for frictional attachment to the clip of the clipboard; a second member connected to said first member and being located proximate to the clip when said structure is frictionally attached to the clip, said second member being of a shape for providing an instrument retention cavity.
 14. A holder according to claim 13 wherein the clip has a first linear edge; and wherein said structure includes a second linear edge.
 15. A holder according to claim 14 wherein said second linear edge is approximately the length of the first linear edge.
 16. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said second member is flexibly movable relative to said first member for opening said instrument retention cavity.
 17. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said second member is movable relative to said first member for enlarging said instrument retention cavity.
 18. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said second member is flexibly connected to said first member along a first longitudinal length.
 19. A holder according to claim 13 wherein said first member has a second longitudinal length, said first longitudinal length being substantially shorter than said second longitudinal length.
 20. A holder according to claim 2 and further including a second contact member integrally connected to said second upper section, said second contact member being movable for opening said second instrument retention cavity.
 21. A holder according to claim 2 wherein said second upper section contacts the clip for providing a holding force for retaining said holder to the clip. 